let's play guess my ailment!
May 14, 2013, 2:14 pm
#31
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Do keep us up to date on this. I have a friend going through a bunch of health issues at the moment (male and different issues) but I think about you when talking to him.
Its frustrating. I wish there was a magic pill/wand to fix or even diagnoss some of this .....
RJ
Its frustrating. I wish there was a magic pill/wand to fix or even diagnoss some of this .....
RJ
May 14, 2013, 5:07 pm
#32
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Thanks. I still need to get my other bloodwork and the echo is Friday.
May 15, 2013, 5:45 am
#34
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May 15, 2013, 7:13 am
#35
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It's quite possible to have both, and a good doc will recognize and treat each one.
May 15, 2013, 8:40 am
#36
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Once I have all of the test results, I'll schedule another follow-up, and ask about that, plus ask for a referral to an endocrinologist, assuming these tests show no reason for this. In fact, I probably should call now to schedule a follow-up for the week of Memorial Day.
May 17, 2013, 6:02 am
#37
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Bloodwork was drawn yesterday, and the echo was this morning. It'll be read this afternoon, and then by Monday, my doctor's office should have the report. I have a follow-up appointment scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
May 21, 2013, 11:40 am
#38
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I'm getting a bit annoyed--I was told they'd have the echo report on Monday morning, and when I called yesterday afternoon, it showed as pending. They're supposed to call me when they have it, and now I'm starting to worry.
May 22, 2013, 2:59 pm
#39
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I called again today, and they finally have the results back--it's normal. So, now, I have my follow-up tomorrow, and will ask for a referral to an endocrinologist.
May 24, 2013, 6:39 am
#40
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Had my follow-up appointment yesterday. Yet again, she suggested anti-depressants. I politely declined, because, like I told her, I know that's not what it is.
I did finally get a referral to an endocrinologist, although she told me, "If they see that you have normal labs, they may not see you." Really? If that's the case, I know they aren't the doctor for me.
She seemed to rule this out, as the rheumatologist didn't mention it, so she's figuring that if he didn't mention it, I can't have it. *sigh* Looks like, depending on the endocrinologist, I may be making a drive out towards PHL one of these days.
I did finally get a referral to an endocrinologist, although she told me, "If they see that you have normal labs, they may not see you." Really? If that's the case, I know they aren't the doctor for me.
She seemed to rule this out, as the rheumatologist didn't mention it, so she's figuring that if he didn't mention it, I can't have it. *sigh* Looks like, depending on the endocrinologist, I may be making a drive out towards PHL one of these days.
May 24, 2013, 1:51 pm
#41
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I am not an M.D. I have no idea whether your particular M.D. might be able to defend her reasoning before a committee of peers (professional judgment and all that). I even have no idea of how often the evaluation of depression or whatever turns out to be the actual cause.
But I have an opinion, and, uninformed as it may be, it is strong, and fortified by years of describing various symptoms.
In all those years I have been told maybe two-three times the equivalent of, "it's all in your head."
And each time the.doctor.has.been.wrong. Also--IME only, the doctors who have said that haven't turned out to have been that outstanding in reputation over the years. Anyhow, when told that, eventually I got the diagnosis that the (delete discourteous epithet) did not find and should have found.
In my opinion--again, my definitely uninformed opinion--the diagnosis of psychosomatic can be used to justify stereotypes (guess which sex is diagnosed more often with depression and/or anxiety--go ahead, just guess) or to cover up for a clinician's inability to come out and say, "I haven't a clue."
I have learned to move on. They get one chance at it, and then I'm gone.
BTW, that almost never happens any longer. Reason: I can identify the patronizing ones by a mile. I also research carefully and get the ones with good patient reviews, the ones with excellent hospital affiliations . . . IOW, I have gotten good over the years at identifying top doctors.
Not saying yours isn't, not saying yours might not be right . . . only saying that I would have been gone a long time ago. I don't have to stay within a narrow list of providers, however and if that is your case, perfectly understandable. If not, you don't owe eternal patience and your soul and your beloved dogs to this person.
Anyhow, kudos for your patience, patient. (Trying to make light of it, but in spite of the joking, I am very sympathetic. It is a problem that doesn't really get enough attention--IMO, that is. And yes, I do know that the mind and body are interconnected, and sometimes the diagnosis is justified--only that it is overused and sometimes misused--IMO.)
But I have an opinion, and, uninformed as it may be, it is strong, and fortified by years of describing various symptoms.
In all those years I have been told maybe two-three times the equivalent of, "it's all in your head."
And each time the.doctor.has.been.wrong. Also--IME only, the doctors who have said that haven't turned out to have been that outstanding in reputation over the years. Anyhow, when told that, eventually I got the diagnosis that the (delete discourteous epithet) did not find and should have found.
In my opinion--again, my definitely uninformed opinion--the diagnosis of psychosomatic can be used to justify stereotypes (guess which sex is diagnosed more often with depression and/or anxiety--go ahead, just guess) or to cover up for a clinician's inability to come out and say, "I haven't a clue."
I have learned to move on. They get one chance at it, and then I'm gone.
BTW, that almost never happens any longer. Reason: I can identify the patronizing ones by a mile. I also research carefully and get the ones with good patient reviews, the ones with excellent hospital affiliations . . . IOW, I have gotten good over the years at identifying top doctors.
Not saying yours isn't, not saying yours might not be right . . . only saying that I would have been gone a long time ago. I don't have to stay within a narrow list of providers, however and if that is your case, perfectly understandable. If not, you don't owe eternal patience and your soul and your beloved dogs to this person.
Anyhow, kudos for your patience, patient. (Trying to make light of it, but in spite of the joking, I am very sympathetic. It is a problem that doesn't really get enough attention--IMO, that is. And yes, I do know that the mind and body are interconnected, and sometimes the diagnosis is justified--only that it is overused and sometimes misused--IMO.)
May 25, 2013, 6:31 am
#42
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I am not an M.D. I have no idea whether your particular M.D. might be able to defend her reasoning before a committee of peers (professional judgment and all that). I even have no idea of how often the evaluation of depression or whatever turns out to be the actual cause.
But I have an opinion, and, uninformed as it may be, it is strong, and fortified by years of describing various symptoms.
In all those years I have been told maybe two-three times the equivalent of, "it's all in your head."
And each time the.doctor.has.been.wrong. Also--IME only, the doctors who have said that haven't turned out to have been that outstanding in reputation over the years. Anyhow, when told that, eventually I got the diagnosis that the (delete discourteous epithet) did not find and should have found.
In my opinion--again, my definitely uninformed opinion--the diagnosis of psychosomatic can be used to justify stereotypes (guess which sex is diagnosed more often with depression and/or anxiety--go ahead, just guess) or to cover up for a clinician's inability to come out and say, "I haven't a clue."
I have learned to move on. They get one chance at it, and then I'm gone.
BTW, that almost never happens any longer. Reason: I can identify the patronizing ones by a mile. I also research carefully and get the ones with good patient reviews, the ones with excellent hospital affiliations . . . IOW, I have gotten good over the years at identifying top doctors.
Not saying yours isn't, not saying yours might not be right . . . only saying that I would have been gone a long time ago. I don't have to stay within a narrow list of providers, however and if that is your case, perfectly understandable. If not, you don't owe eternal patience and your soul and your beloved dogs to this person.
Anyhow, kudos for your patience, patient. (Trying to make light of it, but in spite of the joking, I am very sympathetic. It is a problem that doesn't really get enough attention--IMO, that is. And yes, I do know that the mind and body are interconnected, and sometimes the diagnosis is justified--only that it is overused and sometimes misused--IMO.)
But I have an opinion, and, uninformed as it may be, it is strong, and fortified by years of describing various symptoms.
In all those years I have been told maybe two-three times the equivalent of, "it's all in your head."
And each time the.doctor.has.been.wrong. Also--IME only, the doctors who have said that haven't turned out to have been that outstanding in reputation over the years. Anyhow, when told that, eventually I got the diagnosis that the (delete discourteous epithet) did not find and should have found.
In my opinion--again, my definitely uninformed opinion--the diagnosis of psychosomatic can be used to justify stereotypes (guess which sex is diagnosed more often with depression and/or anxiety--go ahead, just guess) or to cover up for a clinician's inability to come out and say, "I haven't a clue."
I have learned to move on. They get one chance at it, and then I'm gone.
BTW, that almost never happens any longer. Reason: I can identify the patronizing ones by a mile. I also research carefully and get the ones with good patient reviews, the ones with excellent hospital affiliations . . . IOW, I have gotten good over the years at identifying top doctors.
Not saying yours isn't, not saying yours might not be right . . . only saying that I would have been gone a long time ago. I don't have to stay within a narrow list of providers, however and if that is your case, perfectly understandable. If not, you don't owe eternal patience and your soul and your beloved dogs to this person.
Anyhow, kudos for your patience, patient. (Trying to make light of it, but in spite of the joking, I am very sympathetic. It is a problem that doesn't really get enough attention--IMO, that is. And yes, I do know that the mind and body are interconnected, and sometimes the diagnosis is justified--only that it is overused and sometimes misused--IMO.)
I was talking to a coworker about some of this (not because I wanted to, but because the boss tends to favor her, and she suggested that he's concerned my doctor's appointments have been interviews), and her father has suffered with depression for a long time. She found the doctor's suggestion extremely funny. She also pointed out that it's not necessarily easy to start or stop anti-depressants, and it's not like the side effects are enjoyable.
I have an appointment set up with the endocrinologist for July 10 (the soonest they could see me), so we'll go from there. If nothing else, I think it may be time to set up an appointment with a PCP a friend suggested that's close to home, to have a discussion, and see if she's not so dependent on one diagnosis.
May 25, 2013, 11:46 am
#43
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How about primary biliary cirrhosis? My sister was recently diagnosed and one of her main symptoms was fatigue, almost crushing fatigue in middle of work day. It is an autoimmune disease that attacts the liver. Blood work to check AMA level (anti-mitochondrial antibody) and liver function tests. Has a familial component so I had AMA drawn as well (gratefully negative), and had results back in couple days.
May 26, 2013, 10:52 am
#44
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How about primary biliary cirrhosis? My sister was recently diagnosed and one of her main symptoms was fatigue, almost crushing fatigue in middle of work day. It is an autoimmune disease that attacts the liver. Blood work to check AMA level (anti-mitochondrial antibody) and liver function tests. Has a familial component so I had AMA drawn as well (gratefully negative), and had results back in couple days.
May 28, 2013, 6:34 am
#45
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When I was at Dream Dinners on Friday, the owner, who only sees me every few months, and one of the employees who sees me every month, both commented that I looked very tired.